Author: Sean Ogle

As the Founder of Breaking Eighty Sean has spent the last 10+ years reviewing the best golf products and golf courses in the world. He prides himself on only writing about products and courses he's experienced first hand, and helping others find exactly what they need to enhance their enjoyment of the game we all love so much.

I’ve been to Coeur d’Alene, a handful of times and every time I’d leave with one big regret: I never played Circling Raven Golf Club. I’ve known about the course for years, and have heard nothing but good things – but I was never able to work it into the schedule. Well, now I know how much of a mistake that was. This past weekend my buddy Jeff and I drove over to Idaho for a handful of rounds including 2 at Circling Raven, and 3 nights at the Coeur d’Alene Casino Resort – and it was the perfect getaway…

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When it comes to golf in the Northeast, Massachusetts certainly holds it own when compared to power house states like New York and New Jersey. You could easily walk into any clubhouse in the country and argue that it has the best courses compared to the other 5 New England states and get little disagreement. It also has a vast amount of variety, from sea-side courses to mountain courses and everything in between. Regardless of where you find yourself in the state, there is great golf to be had. From Cape Cod to to the South and North Shore of…

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When it comes to luxury golf resorts, there aren’t many as well regarded as the Ritz Carlton Half Moon Bay. You’ve got incredible views, two fantastic golf courses, and relatively easy access to the Bay Area airports. But what’s the experience actually like when you arrive at the Half Moon Bay Resort? Is it a proper five-star, Ritz Carlton experience? Or does it get watered down to cater to a broader golf or convention market, rather than the luxury traveler? I’ve got good news: it’s phenomenal. Why? Read on to find out. First Impressions of Half Moon Bay Golf Links…

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Our recent trip to Singapore, basically sums up this entire blog in a nutshell. This is kind of how it went… “So 8 of the top 100 bars in the world are in Singapore….” “We should go!” “Agreed, we can get some pretty cheap flights in 3 weeks, that will help me retain my Delta status.” “Oh wait, there’s a top 100 golf course there too? Yes, let’s definitely go.” “Let’s do it! I should be able to get work off.” “We can use some miles to stay at some nice hotels, and it’s only an extra hundred bucks to…

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If you’ve never been to Oregon before, there’s a good chance you’ve never heard of McMenamin’s. Nearly 30 years ago the McMenamin brothers started a Northwest restaurant empire – that has now evolved into just about every kind of entertainment venue imaginable. In particular they are known for rescuing historic properties from being demolished and then turning them into something way cooler than they were to begin with. How about an elementary school turned entertainment complex? Or the backstage of an old theater, into a pool hall complete with 70 foot ceilings and catwalks? Or the subject of this post:…

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So I just returned from my second trip to California where I spent a long weekend staying at the Ritz Carlton Half Moon Bay and playing the two golf courses there. If you’ve ever been to the California coast, then you know, it’s one of the most beautiful spots in the world. Every time I’m there, I’m in awe of the scenery and the setting for golf. At least a few times a month on the site I get questions from readers asking about golf in the Bay Area and where I recommend. I also get questions asking if the…

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Taking a major golf trip isn’t all that different from bringing your entire family on vacation to Disneyland: the success of your trip will come down to how well it’s planned. After taking dozens of golf trips over the years, I’ve had many that have gone off without a hitch. I’ve had others, that have been, well, less successful. Looking back, the most successful trips were almost always due to the fact that extra time and care was spent planning the trip. But not all golf trips are created equal. Sometimes you’re driving an hour, staying at a resort, and everything…

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Of all the products to come out in 2022, one of the most hyped in the golf tech world has been the Shot Scope Pro LX+. Why all the hype? Because it’s the first product I’ve heard of that attempts to provide three products in one: a laser rangefinder, GPS distances, and performance tracking. Honestly, the marketing pitch is pretty good! For a product to do all of these things, and come in at under $400 – that’s an impressive package and a very intriguing opportunity. The question is, how do these things perform? Not just on their own, but…

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I first came across the Bushnell Wingman bluetooth speaker at the 2020 PGA Show down in Orlando. It was interesting because it’s truly unlike any product I’ve seen on the market – and coming from Bushnell – it seemed like kind of a surprising move. What is the Bushnell Wingman? It’s a golf bluetooth speaker. What exactly is a golf bluetooth speaker you might be wondering? Aside from the obvious function of playing music, it also serves as an on course GPS – giving you distances to the front back and center of each green. Interesting concept, but does it actually…

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When most of us think about visiting Colorado, there’s a good chance we’re thinking about doing it in the Winter. After all, it’s home to some of the most spectacular ski resorts and mountains in the world. But if you look a little bit closer, you’ll realize that not only is there world-class snowsports, there is also world-class golf to be found as well. If you’re trying to find the best golf courses in Colorado, then you’ve come to the right place. Colorado is home to a few of our personal favorites, and some pretty special golf experiences that are…

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